You Think This Miss Was Scared into Submission?!

"Heh! Do you really think this miss is made of paper?"

Xia Yiran curled her lips in disdain, not taking Jun Wushang seriously at all.

In her eyes, the Heavenly Realm Division was merely a pack of watchdogs raised by the imperial family.

Now that Consort Xia and the Third Prince were in favor, if the Third Prince truly became emperor someday, the Xia Family would become one of Great Zhou's foremost noble clans.

Thus, juniors of the Xia Family like her simply did not regard the Heavenly Realm Division as worthy of notice.

"Whether we're trying to scare you or not, won't you find out if you try?"

Wei Qing suddenly stepped forward, his icy gaze boring straight into Xia Yiran.

Under his stare, Xia Yiran could not help but shudder.

"How presumptuous! You dare—"

Seeing his mistress frightened, a servant immediately leaped out and pointed at Wei Qing's nose, about to unleash a torrent of curses.

With his master backing him, the servant instantly puffed himself up.

"Swish—"

A flash of cold light streaked past, and Wei Qing's blade was already back in its sheath.

The servant's right hand, which had been pointing at Wei Qing, dropped to the ground with a plop, blood gushing out at once.

"Ah! My hand..."

Clutching his severed wrist, the servant rolled across the ground and wailed, pain twisting his face out of shape.

The other servant, who had been about to charge forward, was frightened senseless. His legs trembled uncontrollably, and he looked at Wei Qing as though he had seen the King of Hell.

Although the watching townsfolk found it satisfying, they were all thrown into a panic.

"Young man, you've caused a terrible disaster!" An old vegetable seller stamped his feet anxiously. "Run, quickly!"

"Yes, yes! The Xia Family isn't someone you can provoke. People will die!" The aunt beside him also lowered her voice to urge them.

Su Lie, who had been rescued, was drenched in cold sweat. "Benefactors, I am deeply grateful for your great kindness, but don't throw away your lives because of me!"

"Run?" Xia Yiran came back to her senses and sneered repeatedly. "In all of Great Zhou, where could you possibly run?"

She still wanted to spit out a few threats, but her neck suddenly went cold. A long blade gleaming with chill light had already been pressed against her throat.

"The Heavenly Realm Division recognizes only His Majesty and the Great Zhou Law." Wei Qing spoke word by word. "Even if imperial relatives break the law, the Heavenly Realm Division will arrest them all the same. This is a rule laid down by the Founding Emperor."

He narrowed his eyes. "What, is your Xia Family greater than the Founding Emperor? Are you plotting rebellion?"

"You—you're talking nonsense!" Xia Yiran's face turned deathly pale, and even her voice changed pitch.

"When did I ever say such a thing? I'll go to the Ministry of Justice and accuse you of slander!"

Disregarding the Founding Progenitor.

Trampling upon the laws established by the Founding Emperor.

If those two towering accusations were pinned down, forget her—even the entire Xia Family would be finished alongside her.

"Threatening and intimidating a Guardian Envoy of the Heavenly Realm Division, and you still deny it?"

"Forcibly seizing commoners in broad daylight, and you still deny it?"

"Relying on your status as imperial kin to oppress civilians, and you still deny it?"

With every sentence, Wei Qing's voice rose another notch.

Xia Yiran was forced back again and again. At last, she stumbled and fell straight onto the ground.

She raised her head to look at Wei Qing, her eyes full of terror. Where was even a trace of her earlier arrogance?

"My lord, your words are too severe." A gray-robed elder suddenly stepped out of the crowd, his face piled high with smiles. "My young miss absolutely had no intention of disrespecting the Founding Emperor."

"It was merely a small conflict with this young fellow. We will pay twenty taels of silver."

The gray-robed elder walked to Su Lie, took out one hundred taels of silver, and placed them in his hands.

"The extra silver shall serve as my young miss's apology. I hope this young fellow will not take it to heart."

"I cannot accept this silver."

Su Lie refused and pushed the silver back.

"As long as Miss Xia does not make things difficult for my benefactors in the future, that will be enough."

"Mm."

The elder was slightly taken aback, and his gaze toward Su Lie gained a trace of appreciation.

He had not expected that this young man, despite his tender age, could not only withstand the temptation of money, but also understand so well how to repay kindness.

"You are quite good. If I tell you to accept the silver, then accept it. Things sent out by the Xia Family have never been taken back."

After saying that, the elder forcibly stuffed the silver into Su Lie's arms and patted his shoulder. "Rest assured, little brother. My young miss will never trouble Lord Wei."

"You know me?"

Wei Qing looked at the elder before him. He was certain he had never met him.

The gray-robed elder smiled. "Hehe, of course. Lord Wei Yuan's only son, who slew a Sixth-rank Demon alone and quelled the demonic chaos in Qingcheng—Lord Wei's name is truly thunderous to this old man's ears."

"Not only this old man. Who in the Imperial City does not now know of Lord Wei's mighty reputation?"

"Mm."

Wei Qing frowned slightly.

He had only mentioned the matter of slaying the Spiritual Resonance Demonic Cat in the intelligence report sent to the Heavenly Realm Division.

Why, then, had it become known throughout the entire city?

He felt as if a vast net were closing over him.

It seemed—

This return to the capital would be even more eventful than he had imagined.

Wen Liang clasped his hands in salute, his attitude sincere. "The Xia Family was indeed in the wrong in today's matter. On behalf of my young miss, this old man offers an apology to you both."

"I hope Lord Wei and Warden Jun will give Consort Xia and the Third Prince some face and let the matter end here. What do you say?"

Jun Wushang stood to one side with his blade in his arms and said nothing.

"May I know your name, Senior?"

Rather than answer directly, Wei Qing asked, "How should I address you, Senior?"

"This old man is Wen Liang, steward of the Xia Family," the elder answered respectfully.

"Since Steward Wen has put it that way," Wei Qing said with cupped fists, "if we keep pressing the matter, we would instead seem lacking in magnanimity."

In truth, the moment this old man appeared, Wei Qing understood that today's affair could not be escalated.

The faint yet discernible pressure around Wen Liang made it obvious that he was no easy opponent.

Yet the man had deliberately lowered his stance so much.

On top of that, he had even invoked Consort Xia and the Third Prince. If they continued to pursue the matter, they would instead look ignorant of propriety.

Hearing this, Wen Liang immediately cupped his hands in salute. "On behalf of my young miss, this old man thanks Lord Wei."

"If you have time in the future, you are welcome to visit the Xia Family. We will certainly receive you with the utmost hospitality."

Wei Qing cast a meaningful glance at the still-dazed Xia Yiran and said blandly, "After we return to the capital and report our mission, we will surely pay a visit when we have time. I only hope the Xia Family will not shut us out when that time comes."

"Lord Wei, rest assured." Wen Liang waved his hand with a smile. "What you fear will never happen."

He beckoned toward the edge of the crowd, and two maids hurried over to help Xia Yiran, who was still sitting on the ground in a daze, to her feet.

Even as she left, the young miss did not forget to shoot them a vicious glare, only for Wei Qing, who had been watching her all along, to catch her red-handed.

"Let today's matter end here. This old man shall await Lord Wei's arrival in the Imperial City." Wen Liang cupped his hands in farewell.

"Until we meet again." Wei Qing likewise returned the salute with cupped fists.

Once Wen Liang and his group had gone far away, Jun Wushang leaned over and nudged Wei Qing. "Say, Old Wei, there was something behind those words of yours just now, wasn't there?"

Wei Qing slid his blade back into its sheath, smiling without quite smiling. "Was there? Weren't those just ordinary pleasantries?"

"Oh, give it a rest!" Jun Wushang rolled his eyes.

"The resentment in that Xia Family young miss's eyes was practically spilling over when she left, yet you said you'd pay them a visit? If there's nothing fishy going on, even ghosts wouldn't believe it!"

Wei Qing patted his good brother on the shoulder and lowered his voice. "As long as you believe it!"